CGL, Railways, RBI, Bank PO by Dr. Gaurav Garg

Premier Coaching Institute For SSC,-CGL, Railways, RBI, Bank PO A-91, 2nd Floor, Near Style Shoes, Lajpat Nagar , New Delhi – 110024 Mo. 9716523859 ,9716523857 By Dr. Gaurav Garg (General Science) For more downloads, visit www.studyiq.in ANCIENT INDIAN HISTORY 1. PRE-HISTORY 1.1 Stone Age The name India was derived from the river name Sindhu which is also known as Indus. India was originally considered as a part of a larger area called Jambu- dwipa (The continent of Jambu tree) The modern human being first appeared around 36000 BC. In the Paleolithic age which lasted till 8000 BC, primitive man used tools and implements of rough stone. Initially man was a food gatherer and depended on nature for food. He learnt to control fire which helped him to improve his way of living. From 8000 BC the Mesolithic age began and continued up to 4000 BC in India. During this time sharp and pointed tools were used for killing fast‐moving animals. Neolithic settlements are not older than 4000 BC. Man began to domesticate animals and cultivate plants. Towards the end of the Neolithic period metals like copper and bronze were used. This was the Chalcolithic phase. 1.2 Indus Valley Civilization The Bronze Age in the Indian subcontinent began around 3300 BCE with the early Indus Valley Civilisation. It was centred on the Indus River and its tributaries which extended into the Ghaggar-Hakra River valley, the Ganges-Yamuna Doab, Gujarat, and south For more downloads, visit www.studyiq.in eastern Afghanistan. The civilisation is primarily located in modern-day India (Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan provinces) and Pakistan (Sindh, Punjab, and Balochistan provinces). Inhabitants of the ancient Indus river valley, the Harappans, 1. developed new techniques in metallurgy and handicraft and produced copper, bronze, lead, and tin. 2. Brought town planning and urbanism. 3. knew the art of growing cereals, wheat and barley. 4. the earliest people in the world to grow cotton and rice. 5. domesticated oxen, buffaloes, goats, camel, sheep, domestic fowls and pigs. Horses were unknown to the Harappan people. 6. used a system of weights and measures based on 16 and its multiples. The Mature Indus civilisation flourished from about 2600 to 1900 BCE, marking the beginning of urban civilisation on the subcontinent. The civilisation is noted for its cities built of brick, roadside drainage system, and multistoried houses. Great Bath in Pakisthan is one of the best known structures among ruins of Indus valley civilisation The civilisation included urban centres such as Dholavira, Kalibangan, Ropar , Rakhigarhi, and Lothal in modern-day India, and Harappa , Ganeriwala and Mohenjo-daro in modern-day Pakistan. The chief male deity of the Indus people was Pasupati Mahadeva (Porto Siva). Their Chief female deity was the Mother Goddess. They also worshipped fire, peepal trees and Unicorn. Reasons for decline- Floods and Earthquakes, change in the course of river Indus, aridity of the area, or drying up of river Ghaggar, the invasion of Aryans are the supposed reasons for the decline of the civilization towards 1500 BC. For more downloads, visit www.studyiq.in 2. Vedic Age (1500 - 500 BC) The Vedic period is characterised by Indo-Aryan culture associated with the texts of Vedas, sacred to Hindus, which were orally composed in Vedic Sanskrit. In terms of culture, many regions of the subcontinent transitioned from the Chalcolithic to the Iron Age in this period. It became increasingly agricultural and was socially organised around the hierarchy of the four varnas, or social classes. In addition to the Vedas, the principal texts of Hinduism, the core themes of the Sanskrit epics Ramayana and Mahabharata are said to have their ultimate origins during this period. There are four Vedas: Rig Veda, Yajurveda, Samaveda and Atharva Veda. 1. Rig veda is the oldest veda. Famous Gayatri Mantra is contained in this. Mention about the origin of Universe is found in the Rig Veda (10th Mandala). 2. Yajurveda deals with sacrifices and rituals. 3. Sama Veda deals with Music. 4. Atharva veda is a collection of spells and incantations. Ayurveda is a part of Atharva Veda, which deals with medicine. Upanishads are 108 in number. Upanishads are philosophical works. The words ‘Satyameva Jayate ’ have been taken from ‘Mundaka Upanishad’. Cattle was the chief measure of wealth of the vedic period. Indra was the greatest God of Aryans and Agni occupied second position. Varuna was God of water and Yama was the Lord of dead. The two priests who played a major part during the Rig Vedic period were Vashishta and Visvamitra. First law giver of ancient India was Manu. He wrote ‘Manusmrithi ’. For more downloads, visit www.studyiq.in Jainism 1. Vardhamana Mahavira was believed to have born in 540 BC in Kundala Grama in Vaishali the capital. Mahavira’s family was connected with the royal family of Magadha. 2. There were 24 tirthankaras (Prophets or Gurus), all Kshatriyas. 3. First was Rishabhanath (Emblem: Bull). 4. The 23rd Tirthankar Parshwanath (Emblem: Snake) was the son of King Ashvasena of Banaras. 5. His main teachings were: Non‐injury, Non‐lying, Non‐stealing, Non‐possession. 6. The 24th and the last Tirthankar was Vardhman Mahavira (Emblem: Lion). Mahavira attained Nirvana at the age of 72 at Pavapuri near Rajagriha in 468 BC. In the 13th year of his asceticism (on the 10th of Vaishakha), outside the town of Jrimbhikgrama, he attained supreme knowledge (Kaivalya). From now on he was called Jaina or Jitendriya and Mahavira, and his followers were named Jains. Ahimsa Paramo Dharma’ is the sacred hymn of Jainism. Mahavira taught the three Jewels of Jainism (Triratna) Right Faith, Right Knowledge and Right Conduct. Figure shows famous Gomateshwar temple in Karnataka. The Jains repudiated the authority or infallibility of the vedas. The Jains rejected the concept of Universal soul or a supreme power as the creator and sustainer of the Universe. Mahavira believed that all individuals irrespective of caste can strive for liberation through good deeds and living. For more downloads, visit www.studyiq.in Buddhism Buddhism originated in the 6th century BC. Gautama Buddha the founder of Buddhism was born in Lumbini in Kapilavasthu on the border of Nepal in 563 BC. Buddha’s mother Mahamaya died seven days after his birth. He was brought up by his aunt Mahaprajpati Gautami , hence he got the name ‘Gautama’. Buddhas original name was Sidhartha . Four sights changed his mind and initiated him to spiritual life they were death, old age, sadness and sufferings. He left home at the age of 29 along with his charioteer Channa and favourite horse Kandaka. This incident is known as ‘Mahabhinishkramana’ or The Great Renunciation) Buddha got enlightenment at Bodha Gaya , on the banks of Niranjana river in Bihar at the Age of 35. Buddha made his first sermon after enlightenment at a deer park at Saranath in Uttar Pradesh. This incident is known as ‘Dharmachakrapravarthana ’. Buddha made his sermons in Pali language and the early Buddhist texts were also written in Pali language. Viharas are the Buddhist monastries. ‘Jataka stories ’ describe the stories related to the birth of Buddha. They are 500. Symbols of buddha Birth Lotus and Bull Renunciation Horse Enlightenment Bodhitree First Sermon Dharma Chakra Nirvana (Death) Foot prints Buddhist worshipping centre is known as Pagoda . For more downloads, visit www.studyiq.in 3. SECOND URBANISATION 3.1 Magadhan Empire In the 6th century BC there originated 16 Mahajanapadas in North India. Four prominent royal dynasties stand out prominently out of these Janapadas. They were Haryankas of Magadha , the Ikshvakus of Kosala ,the Pauravas of Vatsa and the Pradyotas of Avanti . Haryanka is the name of a new dynasty founded in Magadha by Bimbisara . The Central Ganges Plain, where Magadha gained prominence, forming the base of the Mauryan Empire. Magadha became a supreme power in North India under Ajatasatru . So Ajatasatru is considered as the founder of Magadhan Supremacy. Pataliputra and Rajagriha were the capitals of Magadhan kingdom. Magadha falls in the Patna region of Bihar. Magadha played an important role in the development of Jainism and Buddhism, and two of India's greatest empires, the Maurya Empire and Gupta Empire, originated from Magadha. These empires saw advancements in ancient India's science, mathematics, astronomy, religion, and philosophy and were considered the Indian "Golden Age". The Magadha kingdom included republican communities such as the community of Rajakumara. Villages had their own assemblies under their local chiefs called Gramakas. Their administrations were divided into executive, judicial, and military functions. Haryankas were overthrown by Sisunaga and he founded the Sisunaga dynasty there. Kalasoka the son and successor of Sisunaga was succeeded by Mahapadma Nanda and he founded the Nanda dynasty. For more downloads, visit www.studyiq.in Alexander’s Invasion By 326 BCE, Alexander the Great had conquered Asia Minor and the Achaemenid Empire and had reached the northwest frontiers of the Indian subcontinent. There he defeated King Porus in the Battle of the Hydaspes (near modern- day Jhelum, Pakistan) and conquered much of the Punjab. Alexander's march east put him in confrontation with the Nanda Empire of Magadha and the Gangaridai ofBengal. His army, exhausted and frightened by the prospect of facing larger Indian armies at the Ganges River, mutinied at the Hyphasis (modern Beas River) and refused to march further East. Alexander, after the meeting with his officer, Coenus, and learning about the might of Nanda Empire, was convinced that it was better to return. Alexander died of Malaria at the age of 33 in 323BC while he was in Babylon. Aristotle was Alexander’s teacher. Aristotle is considered as the father of Politics, Biology, Taxonomy and the Science of Logic.

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